--> Abstract: Interpretation of Remote Sensing, Geological and Geophysical Data of Malda-Purnea Graben, India, in Bringing out the Basinal Architecture--An Integrated Approach, by R. P. Agarwal, D. N. Prasad, A. K. Srivastava, and R. Bhoj; #91012 (1992).

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ABSTRACT: Interpretation of Remote Sensing, Geological and Geophysical Data of Malda-Purnea Graben, India, in Bringing out the Basinal Architecture--An Integrated Approach

AGARWAL, R. P., D. N. PRASAD, A. K. SRIVASTAVA, and R. BHOJ, KDMIPE, Oil & Natural Gas Commission, Dehradun, India

Results of interpretation of remote sensing data of Malda-Purnea graben, India, were integrated with geological and geophysical information to bring out the structural and tectonic framework of the basin and delineate possible exploratory targets.

The graben is an intracratonic rift basin that trends in a north-south direction bounded by the subsurface Monghyr-Saharsa ridge in the west and the Dinajpur high in the east, separated by two major faults. To the north, the graben extends below the Frontal Folded Zone of the Himalayas. Its continuation further south into Bengal basin is not clear. A well drilled in the graben indicated the presence of 2600 m of continental Gondwana sediments unconfirmably overlain by 800 m of Siwalik sediments. Dominant lineament trends are north-northwest-south-southeast to northwest-southeast and northeast-southwest, which follows the older weak zones.

The graben initiated along north-northwest-south-southeast faults during the late Paleozoic by taphrogenesis. The eastern margin fault was more active, showing larger throw that resulted in the deepening of the graben to the northeast. Reactivation of the northeast-southwest and northwest-southeast faults further differentiated the graben into highs and lows. After cessation of sedimentation, the graben remained a positive area up to the Tertiary period, during which it became a part of the foredeep developed as a result of Himalayan Orogeny with a regional paleo-slope toward the north. The east-west-trending Ganga fault marks the southern limit of the foredeep.

Morphostructures identified in the proximal area of the Frontal Folded Zone appear to be related to the subsurface structures formed as drapeovers. Considering the occurrence of Gondwanas in the contiguous Sikkim and Nepal in favorable facies and overall thickening of sediments in the north may result in development of matured source facies, suggesting that the northernmost part of the graben has better hydrocarbon potential.

 

AAPG Search and Discovery Article #91012©1992 AAPG Annual Meeting, Calgary, Alberta, Canada, June 22-25, 1992 (2009)